Organisers seek donations for Nkomo celebrations

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ORGANISERS of the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo’s commemorations set for July 1 have appealed for assistance from individuals and the corporate sector to make the day a success.

ORGANISERS of the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo’s commemorations set for July 1 have appealed for assistance from individuals and the corporate sector to make the day a success.

NQOBANI NDLOVU STAFF REPORTER

The commemorations would be held at Stanley Square in Makokoba under the theme “Healing the Nation”.

The Joshua Nkomo Cultural Foundation national director Mehluli Moyo said the day could only be a success with a buy-in from various stakeholders.

“We are working hard towards making this annual event a success. We are looking forward to seeing many people coming together and celebrating the legacy of Umdala Wethu,” Moyo said.

“We are appealing for any kind of assistance, be it material, to make this day a success.”

The commemorations will begin with a 4km walk dubbed the “General Josh National Healing Power” in the morning from Blue Lagoon next to the Renkini bus terminus to the central business district and end at Stanley Square. A fundraising dinner was held recently and a total of $16 300 was raised to document the late veteran nationalist’s life and to rehabilitate the Joshua Nkomo Museum in Matsheumhlophe suburb.

There have been calls to declare July 1 as the Joshua Nkomo and Liberators’ Day, but the government has remained mum on the idea. Moyo and Jabulani Hadebe, the chief executive officer of the Joshua Nkomo National Foundation (JNNF), said a lot was needed to be done in honour of the late vice-president.

Several projects have been undertaken in honour of the late veteran nationalist and national hero such as the renaming of the Bulawayo Airport to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda, the renaming of Main Street to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street and the erection of a Nkomo statue.

“This is not an end in itself and it is not enough. We at the same time cannot wait for the government to come up with, for example, projects to honour Umdala Wethu. It is our responsibility and we urge individuals and the corporate sector to come on board with ideas on how we could continue preserving and honouring the legacy of Nkomo.

“As the JNNF, we are in the process of building a memorial library in his honour,” Hadebe added.